As the India-China impasse in Ladakh caught the attention of the world, the Indian Army continued to be involved – what Delhi called ‘Pakistan-backed militants’ in Kashmir with many experts speculating ‘limited war’ between two nuclear-armed states.

Cross-border infiltration and militancy has increased suddenly along the LoC and the Kashmir valley and at the same time, Pakistan has consistently warned the international community about India’s ‘false flag’ operations.

Despite being heavily involved in the conflict between India and China in Ladakh, the Indian Army has remained proactive in Kashmir. The valley has not seen a decline in the level of involvement of the Indian armed forces as they continue to storm the guerrillas and thwart infiltration offers.

In their latest mission, security forces eliminated three militants from Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) in a meeting. Repaired Explosives (IED) experts were also identified among the militants killed.

According to sources, a joint contingent of police, the Central Reserve Forces (CRPF) and the Indian Army surrounded the village of Kangan, Pulwama Regency after receiving intelligence reports that highlighted the presence of guerrillas in the area.

When the armed forces carried out door-to-door searches, the militants opened fire and were then killed in the fierce fighting that ensued. Defense spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said in a statement that the militants were offered the chance to surrender but decided against it.

Three militants neutralized in Pulwama added 13 terrorists claimed by Indian security forces were recently eliminated. As previously reported by EurAsian Times, Indian armed forces eliminate three terrorists in the Naushera Sector and 10 other heavily armed terrorists in Mendhar along the Control Line (LoC).

The armed forces also found weapons and ammunition including 2 AK assault rifles, US-made M-16A2 rifles, Chinese 9MM pistols, a UBGL with 6 grenades, 5 hand grenades and knives. Medicines, Indian currency totaling 17,000 Rupees and food packages were also found from the meeting location.

Since the cowardly attack on Pulwama in 2019 where more than 40 CRPF soldiers were killed, Indian armed forces maintained extra vigilance in Kashmir. Near the end of May, Indian security forces failed Pulwama 2.0, a plot to recreate the fatal attack of 2019.

Wrong Flag Operation

While the Indian military is busy involving intruders and militants in Kashmir, Pakistan is raising concerns about ‘false flag’ operations. The concern was led by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan who tweeted several times about the ‘false flag’ operation to be carried out by India.

The accusation from Khan arose immediately after the ceasefire violations reported by India after its counter-insurgency operation. “I repeat again that a false flag operation is imminent from India to divert the world’s attention from the ongoing genocide in occupied India. Jammu and Kashmir (IoJK),” Khan previously tweeted.

Khan’s warning about the ‘false flag’ operation was then echoed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Qureshi not only supported Imran Khan but also urged the United Nations to block any military confrontation between New Delhi and Islamabad and offered the UN Monitoring Group to visit the LoC.

Qureshi also highlighted the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians by India during cross-border shootings.

India claims that Pakistan is involved in hiding terrorists who train militants to infiltrate the LoC and cause chaos in Kashmir. The Indian Army has recognized 15 terrorist launching platforms throughout the LoC that are used for the purposes mentioned above.

Pakistan denies this accusation and believes that India plans to carry out “false flag” operations under the guise of these claims. Qureshi also rejected the accusations of ‘launch pad’ as baseless.

While India and China lock horns in Ladakh, experts at the EurAsian Times believe that the international community must oversee Kashmir. Nitin J Ticku, an expert in Kashmir, said while tension with Beijing would not escalate into war, however, the possibility of a ‘limited’ military conflict with Islamabad remained high.